Investment Objective
The Portfolio seeks maximum total return, consistent with preservation of capital and prudent investment management.
Investment Strategy
The Portfolio invests substantially all its assets in PIMCO Total Return Fund Institutional. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 65% of its total assets in a diversified portfolio of Fixed Income Instruments of varying maturities, which may be represented by forwards or derivatives such as options, futures contracts, or swap agreements. "Fixed Income Instruments" include bonds, debt securities and other similar instruments issued by various U.S. and non-U.S. public- or private-sector entities. The average portfolio duration of this Fund normally varies within two years (plus or minus) of the portfolio duration of the securities comprising the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index, as calculated by PIMCO, which as of May 31, 2020 was 5.75 years. Duration is a measure used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates.
The Fund invests primarily in investment-grade debt securities, but may invest up to 20% of its total assets in high yield securities ("junk bonds"), as rated by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody’s"), Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services ("S&P") or Fitch, Inc. ("Fitch"), or, if unrated, as determined by PIMCO. In the event that ratings services assign different ratings to the same security, PIMCO will use the highest rating as the credit rating for that security. The Fund may invest up to 30% of its total assets in securities denominated in foreign currencies, and may invest beyond this limit in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers. The Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging market countries (this limitation does not apply to investment grade sovereign debt denominated in the local currency with less than 1 year remaining to maturity, which means the Fund may invest, together with any other investments denominated in foreign currencies, up to 30% of its total assets in such instruments). The Fund will normally limit its foreign currency exposure (from non-U.S. dollar-denominated securities or currencies) to 20% of its total assets.
The Fund may invest, without limitation, in derivative instruments, such as options, futures contracts or swap agreements, or in mortgage- or asset-backed securities, subject to applicable law and any other restrictions described in the Fund's prospectus or Statement of Additional Information. The Fund may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis and may engage in short sales. The Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in preferred securities, convertible securities and other equity-related securities.
The Fund may, without limitation, seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as buy backs or dollar rolls). The "total return" sought by the Fund consists of income earned on the Fund's investments, plus capital appreciation, if any, which generally arises from decreases in interest rates, foreign currency appreciation, or improving credit fundamentals for a particular sector or security.
Investment Risks
Convertible Securities Risk, Credit Risk, Call Risk, Currency Risk, Derivatives Risk, Emerging Markets Risk, Equity Risk, Foreign (Non-U.S.) Investment Risk, High Yield Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Issuer Risk, Leveraging Risk, LIBOR Transition Risk, Liquidity Risk, Management Risk, Market Risk, Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk, Short Exposure Risk, and Sovereign Debt Risk. These risks are discussed under PIMCO Investment Risks, per the disclosure booklet.
